Choosing a church....is like choosing a husband
I LOVE CHURCH!!!!! I was raised in a home that church on Sunday was not a question.......you were going!!!!!!!!!!!! Because they made it a priority, I have always made it a priority! I love church because my best of friends have always come from meeting them at church! Leanne.......met her in 5th grade girls sunday school class....still friends! Laura...met her in college at church.....bonded on a retreat when we were the only girls up early getting our hair and make-up all looking good........still friends! Amy...met her at church during my first year of teaching...bonded on a Christmas ski trip to Colorado because we both drew the short straw and got the master bedroom to share and were fast friends over makeup and hair........still friends! I could name several more, but my point is that God has always given me a church that is like a second family to me! ISN'T THAT THE POINT OF CHURCH? DIDN'T GOD FULLY INTEND FOR THE BELIEVERS OF THE WORLD TO COME TOGETHER IN WEEKLY FELLOWSHIP TO LEARN, WORSHIP, AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER THROUGH CHRIST??????YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10.25
But I am churchless right now and let me just say this.......if you are in-between Churches right now.....HANG IN THERE AND KEEP VISITING AROUND......BEWARE.....SATAN IS JUST WAITING AROUND THE CORNER FOR US TO GET DISCOURAGED AND STOP GOING TO CHURCH ALL TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!
I sensed him this morning. I almost didn't go. I get so mad about that attitude of not going to church at all. I mean, I've been to countries where they risked something in order to worship! I get to do it for free and as freely as I want! I also know, like so many of you faithful believers out there, that God created in our hearts a special place that is only filled when we are serving, committed, and worshiping within the BODY OF CHRIST! I can't explain what it is about being apart of the Body........well maybe, ..........its family. Not your given family but your heavenly family! does that make sense? Like when you meet a stranger and there is that instant bond of loving God.............the relationship almost immediately becomes something different! I LOVE CHURCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love praying together, I love carrying each others burdens, I love eating in the fellowship hall and chatting about sunday school, I love the special music, I CRY EVERY TIME SOMEONE WALKS THAT AILE TO EXCEPT CHRIST, AND I cry every time someone is baptised and the preacher says "RAISED TO WALK IN A NEWNESS OF LIFE" AMEN AMEN AMEN!
CHURCH IS FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!
And when that family is absent.....I miss it dearly!
but...........I am finding that Father really wants to work this "looking for a church" thing out with me. It is not going to be easy. I have to continue to ask myself WHAT ARE THINGS THAT YOU CAN NOT LIVE WITHOUT AND WHAT ARE THINGS THAT YOU CAN JUST LIVE WITH! no church is perfect....and i am never going to be able to reproduce the church I came from.......and just cause one church is one way or worships one way, doesn't mean all Churches are the same. This is not a small issue for me. I love serving in the Church and most times feel like that is more my job on earth than teaching!
The problem that I keep running into is the style of preaching. I want an EXPOSITORY PREACHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Expository preaching involves the exposition, or comprehensive explanation, of the Scripture; that is, expository preaching presents the meaning and intent of a biblical text, providing commentary and examples to make the passage clear and understandable. It is different than topical preaching and textual preaching. topical sermons.....the preacher starts with a topic and then finds a passage in the Bible that addresses that topic. None of the passages is studied in depth; instead, each is used to support the theme of laziness. In a textual sermon......the preacher uses a particular text to make a point without examining the original intent of that text. In both topical and textual sermons, the Bible passage is used as support material for the topic. In expository sermons, the Bible passage is the topic, and support materials are used to explain and clarify it. They are all good preaching methods, by the way!
Did that make sense? So, everybody likes a different style of preaching...expository preaching is what I feel like best fits my learning style and pushes me to really grow in the word! The problem is.............I am in a town full of topical preaching and 20 minute sermons. I NEED MEAT IN MY SERMON PEOPLE........i want to learn...i want conviction....i want to leave there still talking about the sermon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
so back to my question, what are non-negotiable things when it comes to choosing a church? I am not talking foundational beliefs and denominational stuff....i don't even visit the churches that do not line up with the word of God and other beliefs that are a must for me. If YOU (yes you reading this post) were moving into a new town......what would you be looking for? and is it ok with you that the sunday school might be wonderful but the pastor's preaching not?...or the preaching is great but they don't offer many areas to serve in?????????????
There are no wrong answers here friends....I just need to hear your thoughts.......please share your wisdom with me! I need to hear from you!
"I rejoiced with those who said to me,
"Let us go to the house of the LORD". Ps 122.1